Thought I would put this in General discussion as more would see it. I am not at all the "music police", and don't worry about what songs people use in their show for no-profit. Just wondering if the song "Happy" that seems to be on so many YouTube posts, etc., can be used without any problems. Assuming most don't know or care of the "use" rules, so that is fine with me. If I have to use another song, also no big deal.

My question...1. I would like to do one of those "Happy" videos for a friend for her wedding reception with the bride/groom and both parents to show as a surprise with little video snip-its to the whole song.2. Haven't done this before, so any advice how to do this or if anyone has done something like this, advice before I run into problems will be greatly appreciated.

*Is it just a simple answer as to make the individual video clips and then drop into the show and then drop the one song in? Hope it's as simple as this, but I'm a photo girl and not so much a video girl.

I'm not familiar with that song (at least by the name - I would probably recognize it if I heard it). If it is available from a royalty free site that would be best, but you need to research it and find where it comes from. I try and use royalty free stuff as much as I can, but for friends and family, if something in particular really fits, then I will use it. I'm not selling it, it is not up on YouTube, just something for friends and family so I don't have an issue using whatever fits. As far as assembling the show - it is not clear to me if you were talking about creating video segments in Proshow or if you were talking about using video segments from an actual video. Proshow can handle video to a degree, but if I was going to be using actual video and snipping / dragging chunks around etc. I would consider getting one of the entry level video editors (Sony Vegas Movie Studio, Premiere Elements etc.). They do a much better/easier job of working with video chunks. Working with slides in a video editor is a pain and working with video in a slide show program is a pain - it is nice to have the tools that make your life easier.

From a legal standpoint, these things have more trap doors than the old tar pits! For example, if you are hired as a commercial videographer to tape someone's wedding and reception and they have a DJ playing the music at the reception. While the DJ (hopefully) has the license to play the music, you are not covered by that license typically and as such, the music on the soundtrack of your video can't be used without getting a license that covers you. Sigh. (this discussion goes around in the video forums periodically). Just something to be aware of these days.

Sounds like a plan for the show that just has the video, may just use one of those programs.

I am doing a show right now for a friend that has her wedding pics, reception, etc. and she gave me a mpeg video of her wedding that the photographer gave her permission to use. I dropped in the show and will show at end of all the other pics. I wasn't sure if this was going to work, but just put his mpeg video into a blank show and burned to ISO and it created it fine, so fingers crossed after all my added pics, etc., it will all create ISO.

I'll ditto Barbara on this one with no exception !!!! To use this sound track willy nilly for profit, would be pure copyright infringement. Best to do as Mikey says, use some thing where you can purchase a valid license and then have a good sleep at night, ... worry free !!

tjdowning wrote:Just maybe using it for a clip for wedding reception, no profit no anything. One reason I only do slideshows for family and friends and getting nothing. (But just the enjoyment of doing it)

Even without profit, there's a strong case for copyright infringement when a song is used in a public venue. YouTube is fine example of this happening where someone uses a song they haven't been licensed to use and it's spotted. The music is stripped out of it. The likelihood of a problem occurring in a private wedding setting isn't very big at all, but there's still that molecule of chance.